Most Valuable Player
Current Leader:
Lamar Jackson - BAL Quarterback
Lamar Jackson is following up his MVP season last year with an even better start to this season. Following a perfect passer rating in last week's trouncing of the Broncos and another game of the year candidate this Thursday versus the Bengals, Lamar is stacking up incredible games. Lamar has 26 total Touchdowns and 2 Interceptions on the year with 2669 passing yards and 538 rushing yards.
Bringing his team to a 6-3 record, Lamar has had a passer rating over 100 for 8 games in a row now. With an emphasis on his rushing ability through the first 6 seasons of his career, it seems clear that Lamar has been out to improve his passing. The Ravens are one of the best teams in the AFC right now with Lamar Jackson running this offense almost to perfection.
Runner-Up:
Joe Burrow - CIN Quarterback
After injuring himself last season with only 9 full games played, Joe Burrow came back with a VENGEANCE. While his team may only be 4-6, Burrow has been the best player on his team by a mile and if the Bengals were at all competitive, would be leading the MVP race.
Burrow has been one of the most consistent passers this season and has accumulated 25 total Touchdowns and only 4 turnovers. Without a #1 running back and with his WR2 injured for most of the season, Burrow has had to rely on playmakers deep in his depth chart and has made people like Andrei Iosivas look like Pro Bowlers. If the Bengals defense can step up and the team get healthy, they may be due for a late-season run and Joe Burrow could make this MVP race a good one.
Coach of the Year
Current Winner:
Dan Quinn - WAS Head Coach
From a #2 pick at 4-13 to a 7-2 start in his first year coaching the Commanders, Dan Quinn has done an excellent job with this team. A defensive specialist, Quinn has turned a team that ranked dead last in pass defense last year to only allowing 200 yards per game. While credit is also deserved to rookie QB Jayden Daniels, (we'll see him later on the list) and new OC Kliff Kingsbury, (we'll also see him later on the list) for the offensive spike they've seen this season, Dan Quinn has seemingly completed one of the greatest turn around rebuilds in NFL history.
With a 7-2 record, the Commanders do still have 2 games against the Cowboys and 2 against the Eagles to go through but are still in a tremendous position to make the playoffs. Just last year, we saw the Texans do the same thing; going from the #2 pick to a playoff run with a rookie QB and was infamously snubbed from this award. The race for COY isn't as neck and neck as last year so Quinn most likely won't get snubbed this year.
Runner-Up:
Kevin O'Connell - MIN Head Coach
The Vikings started the year at a meteoric pace of 5-0 with Sam Darnold as Quarterback after their QB1, rookie J.J. McCarthy got injured before the season could start. Now sitting at 6-2, the Vikings are still in a good position to not only make the playoffs but could still win the NFC North, the toughest division in football. After going 7-10 last season and completely changing the QB room this offseason, Kevin O'Connell deserves a lot of respect for it.
After losing two of their last three games, the Vikings real test will be the next few weeks with a 3-game road trip upcoming, followed by a series of home games but against above-.500 opponents in the NFC. At the end of the year they will have to face off against divisional foes Packers and Lions. With the gap between KOC and Dan Quinn already faily large, it's unlikely O'Connell wins but still deserves a lot of credit.
Offensive Player of the Year
Current Winner:
Derrick Henry - BAL Running Back
King Henry has revolutionized one of the best offenses in the NFL and is averaging 112 yards per game and 1.4 TDs per game. Before the season, teams were worried if Henry could even make it through another full season. Now, he has become the best bell-cow RB in the league.
Henry's only reason for not winning the award this year would be because he's surrounded by talent. If Lamar wins MVP, I can see Henry not winning OPOY and instead going to Jefferson or Barkley because so.
Runner-Up:
Justin Jefferson - MIN Wide Receiver
The #1 most consistent player in the NFL season this year, Jefferson has had 80+ receiving yards every week since Week 2. Leading the league in receiving yards while not even being in the Top-10 in receptions.
With the emergence of Sam Darnold this season, the stellar play of Justin Jefferson could be one of the biggest reasons for it. The biggest takeaway to people who have watched Vikings games this season is his ability to get open. Even though he is #1 on defenses scouting reports every week, he has gotten 6 receptions in 6 straight games. The #1 receiver in the league, Jefferson has a legitimate shot to win the award especially if Henry slows down towards the end of the year.
Defensive Player of the Year
Current Winner:
T.J. Watt - PIT Edge Rusher
Every year, T.J. Watt is in the running for DPOY but this year it seems already in the bag. T.J. Watts success and domination on the football field can best be compared to a Basketball player that gets a Quadruple Double; he is skilled all over.
With 33 tackles, 10 TFLs, 14 QB Hits, 6.5 sacks, 4 Forced Fumble, 2 Fumble Recoveries and 2 Pass Deflections in just 8 games, Watt is unreal. While not on the pace for sacks he normally is, his versatility is what should win this award.
Runner-Up:
Trey Hendrickson - CIN Edge Rusher
From the man that can do it all, to the man that can do one thing the best in the league, Trey Hendrickson is the best pass rusher in the league. With 28.5 sacks in his last 27 games, Hendrickson has also somehow fell under the radar and is officially in an underrated category despite having the most sacks in that period of time.
Another reason for Trey to be up here is his importance to the Bengals defense. Without any direct evidence to this claim besides his pressure rate and sack totals, the Bengals defense would be the WORST IN THE LEAGUE without Hendrickson's output. Unfortunately for Trey, Watt's versatility and more importantly his popularity will make winning the award an uphill battle for the Bengals.
Comeback Player of the Year
Current Winner:
Joe Burrow - CIN Quarterback
We've already spoken about how great Joe Burrow's season has been in his "MVP runner-up" award, so we're going to dive into something a bit different here. The ability of Joe Burrow to have a struggling 2023 season and then midway through tear ligaments in his THROWING arm's wrist, then come back and have THIS season is remarkable.
Burrow will take a lot of flak for his team being 4-6 to this point but he should be very happy with his individual performance ESPECIALLY considering his comeback from injury. One thing is plain here, Burrow isn't letting his team down, the team is letting Burrow down. When the Bengals defense holds their defense to 24 or less points the Bengals are 4-1, however the Bengals have also given up 35+ points 4 times where they are 0-4. Burrow should be very proud of his progress but I'm sure he's still more worried about team success than individual.
Runner-Up:
J.K. Dobbins - LAC Running Back
From an injury-riddled start to his career that had him play in 9 games in the last 2 seasons, to one of the best running backs in the league, J.K. Dobbins is back! 727 yards and 6 TDs through 8 games would be career numbers for most RBs in the league and Dobbins is having them after 3 season-ending injuries.
Dobbins' signing with the Chargers this offseason didn't turn a lot of heads and was initially thought to have a backup role to Gus Edwards. Dobbins quickly expelled those rumors with 266 yards in 2 games. His starting role was established then and he has literally hit the ground running. Dobbins journey back to the NFL is a story of determination and never giving up and can be looked at as inspiration for players in or soon to be in the league alike. If the committee decide that Burrow's "comeback" isn't justified due to playing in 10 games last season then Dobbins will be the sure fired pick and will deserve it 100%.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Current Winner:
Jayden Daniels - WAS Quarterback
Following in C.J. Stroud's footsteps of last year, Jayden Daniels went from being the #2 pick and turning his franchise around on his way to OROY. There are some great offensive rookies this season and Jayden Daniels is clear and above them with 2404 all-purpose yards, 13 TDs and only 4 turnovers. One of the greatest accomplishments Daniels has this season is a 71.5% completion percentage currently ranking 2nd in the league.
Another factor for Daniels winning this award is his part in team success for the Commanders. The Commanders overhaul of the organization this offseason included the GM, Head Coach and several other pieces of the roster along with Daniels but his presence on the field has been the catalyst. Going 7-2 so far this season while ranking 3rd in the league in scoring and yards per game, Daniels and the Commanders are on an unreal pace with Daniels running further and further away with the OROY award.
Runner-Up:
Malik Nabers - NYG Wide Receiver
While Daniels will undoubtedly get the award thanks to his team success and positional importance, Malik Nabers is truly battling him in individual success. With 55 catches, 557 yards and 3 TDs in 7 games, Nabers greatest success is actually making Daniel Jones look good. Immediately becoming the #1 receiver in New York, Nabers has only played in 7 of the Giants 9 games thanks to a concussion suffered in their Week 4 game. Up to that point Malik Nabers was on a historic pace of catches and receiving yards for a rookie.
While slowing down a bit since his injury, Nabers is still on pace for a 117 catch, 1,192 rec yards and 7 TDs which would set a record for receptions by a rookie and rank in the Top-15 in both catches and receiving yards in the entire league. The battle for second-place for this award will be very competitive with other names like Caleb Williams, Bo Nix and Brock Bowers also demanding attention with their play. Nabers should beat all of them out with his play however and his importance to his team.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Current Winner:
Jared Verse - LAR Edge Rusher
Here is the closest race we've seen so far, with the DROY award currently going to Jared Verse of the Rams. With no defensive rookie separating himself from the pack or really having a great year at all, Verse is putting together a decent campaign as one of the Rams best pass rushers this season.
With 3.5 sacks, 9 TFLs and a FF on the season already, Verse has been both a great pass rusher and a decent edge container this season. Verse is definitely in the lead for this award with only half the season to go but his play hasn't been stellar enough to go clear of the otherwise mediocre group of defensive rookies.
Runner-Up:
Kamari Lassiter - HOU Cornerback
With another selection that could quite literally be given to 4 or 5 different rookies, I've selected Kamari Lassiter as the runner-up at this point thanks to a do it all mentality he has. As a CB and SAF hybrid, Lassiter took a while to come into his own in coverage this season but has emerged as a true pass deflector. Paired alongside Derek Stingley in the Texans secondary, Lassiter is a physical corner who has been very good the last couple weeks.
With season numbers that include a 45.7% reception-when-targeted rate and 1 interception, Lassiter has shown that he is a future starter on this defense. His ability to play a strong safety role and make tackles or follow Tight Ends has also given him a versatility Demeco Ryans and this Texans' defense didn't have before. Lassiter's play as of late has derivatively improved to the point that he could truly push for the award by the end of the season.
Assistant Coach of the Year
Current Winner:
Ben Johnson - DET Offensive Coordinator
Not only the assistant coach of the year but the one of the brightest candidates for a Head Coach position next season, Ben Johnson has been the OC for the Lions for two season now and has led them to the #1 offense in the league this year. His transformation of this team's offense should be studied for years to come, more specifically his ability to create efficiency. We're seeing Jared Goff put up historical completion percentage numbers with... Let's Be Honest... a mediocre receiving core. We're also seeing one of the best 1-2 punches at Running Back the league has ever seen with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combining for 1,154 yards and 14 TDs in only 8 games.
Almost being lured away last season, it seems clear Johnson will be a head coach next year, so the run the Lions are on will be even more important. Since Johnson has come aboard as OC, the team has a 19-6 record in the regular season and a 21-7 record including last year's playoffs where they made their Franchise's second every Conference Championship appearance.
Runner-Up:
Steve Spagnuolo - KC Defensive Coordinator
The contention for this award involves other amazing coaches such as Bobby Slowik (HOU OC), Brian Flores (MIN DC) and Kliff Kingsbury (WAS OC) amongst others but Steve Spagnulo is who I feel as the best shot at catching Johnson. The Chiefs defense has had to step up and carry this team amongst the offense's struggles this season. Coaching his defense to the 4th best in scoring and 5th best in yards allowed, Spagnuolo has done so with very little help from the front office.
With one of the youngest defenses in the league, Spagnuolo has had to build his defense around a secondary that traded away its best player in the offseason, and a front-seven that includes only one Pro Bowler (Chris Jones). Spagnuolo is a true veteran of coaching and is producing one of his best season in a time where his team has depended on him.
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-Z.D.
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